British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has condemned the attack on Ukraine by Russia and has called for an emergency Cobra meeting to discuss the response to the attacks. 

A Downing Street spokesperson told the Independent that Mr Boris was to preside over a Cobra committee meeting at 7:30 a.m.

Mr Johnson said Russian President Vladimir Putin has “chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction” with his attack on Ukraine and that the UK and its allies would respond “decisively”.

On Twitter, Mr Johnson said he had spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss “next steps”.

“I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelenskyy to discuss next steps,” Mr Johnson tweeted, adding that “The UK and our allies will respond decisively.”

Junior Foreign Minister James Cleverly told the BBC on Thursday morning that sanctions will begin rolling out today but more will be announced in the coming days.

“This will be the largest and most severe economic sanctions package that Russia has ever seen,” Mr Cleverly said.  

It came as Ukraine’s president declared martial law, while Russia’s military said it had targeted Ukrainian air bases and other military assets and had not targeted populated areas.

Mr Putin announced the military action during a televised address on Thursday morning, saying the move was a response to threats from Ukraine.

Mr Putin also warned other countries against interfering with the Russian actions, as they would lead to “consequences they have never seen”.

Mr Putin accused the United States and its allies of ignoring Russia’s demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO, saying the Russian invasion is to ensure a “demilitarisation” of Ukraine.

Mr Putin had said that all Ukrainian servicemen who laid down their arms would be able to safely leave the zone of combat.

Explosions could be heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv shortly after Mr Putin’s address, while explosions were also reported in the cities of Odessa and Kharkiv.

Eight people have been killed and nine wounded so far, Ukraine’s interior minister has said.